Maternity skirt



Dec. 8, 1953 G. R. GILBERTSON MATERNITY SKIRT Filed Nov. 17, 1950 r in.

R m m m GRACE R. GILBERTSON Patented Dec. 8, L953 KUNITEDI STATESPEATENT QFFICE MATERNITY SKIRT qraceB qilbertson, Rochester, Wis.Application November 17, 1950, Serial No.19a1s0 The present'inventionrelates" to a ladysggare ment and more particularly .to a novelmaternity skirt so designed and constructed as to be readily.

adjusted to conform to the changes in contour of the body of the wearerduring pregnancy.

- Among the objects of the pres'entinvention is the provision of a novelmaternity skirtand a novel means and mannerof forming this skirt so thatit is originally fitted for normal body contour but is readily adaptedand adjusted to allow for each stage of body growth during.

the present novel embodiment, although oonforming to the body contour,allows for normal skirt appearance below the abdomen; B-y reason of suchconversion from norm-a1 body contour to growth during pregnancy and backto normal body contour, this novel skirt efi'ects maximum economy to thewearer.

Maternity skirts or garments now available are primarily designed foruse only during the period of pregnancy. With this thought in mind, thepurchaser is not too concerned with the quality ofmaterial of which thegarment is made, anticipating the time when she will completely discardthis garment for another." Furthermore, women during the period ofpregnancy and especially when inpublic, are desirous of wearing agarment which will make their condition less conspicuous and provide aminimum of detractionfrom their normal appearance.

The present invention comprehends the provision of a skirt or garmentthat may be and preferably is made of a material of finer quality thanprior types of maternity garments as it may be worn as a skirt of normalproportions formed on classic lines and readily converted to a maternityskirt, and when the period of pregnancy has passed, again converted to agarment of normal lines. Furthermore, by reason of the novel skirtdesign and construction and unlike other maternity skirts or garments,it is without the usual maternity appearance.

Another important feature of the present skirt is its adaptability tocommercial manufacture as well as to home production from a pattern,thus resulting in economy of manufacture.

Further objects are to provide a maternity skirt or garment of maximumsimplicity and efiiciency, and such further objects, advantages andcapabilities as will later more fully appear and are inherentlypossessed thereby.

j afoiamis (or. 2421) 2 .1 .In the drawings: r I Figure 1 is aviewinside elevation of a preg-v nant woman wearing thejnovel maternity skirtorgarment and a loose fitting jacket thereover during pregnancy, theupper portion of the skirt being shown in dotted outline.

Fig. 2 is a view in front elevation of the skirt. V

Fig. 3 is a view in rear elevation thereof.

Fig. 4 is a view in side elevation similar to Fig. 1 but showing thematernity skirt or garment in full outline and the jacket in dottedoutline. 1

Referring more particularly to the disclosure in the drawingand to the,novel illustrative embodiment therein shown, the novel maternity garmentor skirt ljmay be. formed or made of any suitable fabric and by reasonof its novel design and construction whereby the skirt may be readilyconverted after the period of pregnancy from a maternity. garment to askirt for normal wear, it may be made of a finer fabric than the usualmaternity garment now available. The novel skirt is originally fittedfor normal bo dy contour; and, isreadily adapted and adjusted to fittheexpanding' body contour during pregnancy. I

To permit ample room for each stage of growth, the skirt 5 isprovidedwith a large inverted box pleat 2 extending along the entirefront 3 thereof and with the front half or portion of the skirt at 4out'severalinches above the normal waist line 5. Directly belowtheportion of the skirt covering the abdomen the box'pleat is stitchedhorizontally .or transversely thereof at 6 from one edge to the otherwhich holds the lower portion of the skirt firmly in place with an evenhemline during the entire period of pregnancy, and above this stitchingthere is ease, comfort and complete freedom as the inverted box pleatopens gradually for additional growth. Below this stitching at 6 the boxpleat is formed and held by understitching at 1 extending to thehorizontal or transverse stitching at 8 which is within approximatelytwelve inches of the hemline 9 or at approximately knee height, where itis released as an open kick-pleat H to permit ease and freedom inwalking.

Above the horizontal stitching at 6, the in verted box pleat 2 remainsloose and is held in position for normal body contour by means of a beltcomprising a belt tab l2 and a buckle l3 suitably stitched or otherwiseattached to the skirt at the opposite sides of the pleat opening. As thebody contour expands, the belt and the inverted box-pleat open to giveample room for novel each stage of growth, allowing the upper edge ofthe front panel of the skirt to remain at the normal waist line. Toassure retention of this upper edge at the normal waist line during theentire period of pregnancy, the front panel at 4 is cut approximatelytwo to three inches higher than in the back.

As the skirt or garment is originally fitted for normal body contour, itcan be worn before, during and after the period of pregnancy. Thehorizontal or transverse stitching 6 just below the abdomen holds thelower portion of the skirt firmly in place and the hemline remains evenfor the entire period. Above this horizontal or trans-.- verse stitchingthe wearer is afforded ease, comfort and complete freedom as" theinverted box pleat opens gradually for additional growth, with the upperpart of the skirt where it widens-held firmly in place by the belt andbuckle.

Before and after completion of'the-period of pregnancy, the upper partof the inverted box pleat above the horizontal or transverse-stitching-Gmay be stitched down and'the skirt thus assumes normal proportions onclassic lines. By reason of this fact that a skirt cut or formed 'inaccordance with this design and arrangement can be worn before and afterthe period of pregnancy, it will be apparent that it provides themaximum in economy for the wearer. Th'us finer and better gradematerials may be employed and the skirt formed as part of a suit of finecloth texture that has none of the identifying appearance of maternitygarment.

The present skirt at all times allows for normal skirt appearance belowthe abdomen with the skirt thereat held firmly in place by the cross ortransverse stitching while the opening or loosening of the box pleatabove the stitching 6 and over the abdomen is preferably and may becompletely covered by a loose box-type jacket or the like 14.

Having thus disclosed the invention, I claim:

1. A maternity garment fitted for wear prior, during and after pregnancyand'readily adjustable to conform to the changes in contour of theabdomen and body of the wearer during pregnancy, comprising a skirthaving a front panel the upper edge of which extends'above the normalwaist line of the garment prior to enlargement of the abdomen, aninverted box pleat of substantial width at the front and centrally ofthe front panel of the skirt extending for the full length thereof,horizontal stitching extending completely across the box pleat directlybelow the abdominal covering portion and vertical stitching extendingthrough the opposed folds of said pleat from said horizontal stitchingto a point spaced a substantial distance above the hemline whereby thebox pleat is open above the horizontal stitching for lateral adjustmentto conform to body lines thereat and open below the end of the verticalstitching to provide an open kick-pleat to permit/ease in .walking, andadjustable means at the'front of 'th'e'skirt for spanning the upperportion of the open box pleat to conform the skirt to the changingcontour of and allow for each stage of body growth during pregnancy.

2; A maternity garment fitted for wear prior, duringeandaafter,pregnancyand readily adjustable to conform to the changes in contour of theabdomen and body of the wearer during pregnancy, comprising a skirthaving a front panel theupperfiedge of which extendsabove the waist lineof the garment prior to enlargement of the abdomen, an inverted boxpleat'at the front and centrally of the front panel of the skirtextending for the full'length thereof andofsuch' width as tocompensate'for growth of the abdomen during pregnancy, transversestitchinggextendin-g across and through the-box' pleat'directly belowtheabdominal covering'portion and longitudinal stitching extending throughthe-opposed' folds of said pleat downwardly? from the transversestitching to a point spaced a substantial distance abovethe hemlinewhereby the-box pleat is'open above the transverse-stitching for/lateraladjustment to conform to the body lines thereat and open below the-endof the longitudinal stitching tol provide an open kick pleat to permitease in' walking, and a belt and buckle adjacentthe upper end of andexterior of the pleat forspanning the opening of the pleat at the waistline to allowfor adjustment thereat.

GRACE R. GILBERTSON.

References Cited in" the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS,

Number Name Date 929,106 Padernacht July 2'7, 1909 1,022,410 FreedmanApr; 9, 1912 2,443,085 Sachs June 8, 1946 FOREIGN PATENTS Number CountryDate 459,700 Great Britain Jan. 13, 193'7

